Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has refused an application by leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Wuse Ward, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), seeking to bar Senator Ireti Kingibe from participating in party activities following her alleged suspension.
Instead of granting the interim injunction sought by the ward executives, the court directed the plaintiffs to formally serve the senator with all relevant court processes to enable her to respond to the allegations.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Lifu held that the court must exercise its discretion judicially and judiciously, particularly in political matters involving party affairs.
He stressed that justice would only be served if both parties were given the opportunity to present their cases on merit.
The judge consequently ordered that Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the Senate, be put on notice and served with the originating processes to allow her prepare a defence.
The matter was adjourned to April 20, 2026, for the hearing of all pending applications.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026, was filed by Okezuo Godfrey Anayo and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel on behalf of themselves and members of the ADC Wuse Ward Executive Committee. Senator Kingibe is the sole defendant in the case.
In their ex-parte application, filed through Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kolawole Olowookere, the plaintiffs sought an interim injunction restraining the senator from parading herself as a member of the ADC pending the determination of their motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
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They also prayed the court to restrain her from performing functions, attending meetings, or representing the party in any capacity, as well as interfering in the administration of the ward and its statutory records.
According to the plaintiffs, Kingibe was suspended on March 10, 2026, over alleged anti-party activities, gross misconduct, and confiscation of ward statutory records.
They argued that the suspension was carried out in accordance with the ADC constitution and ratified by a two-thirds majority of the ward executive committee.
Despite the suspension, they claimed the senator continued to hold parallel meetings, issue press statements as an ADC member, and allegedly used her security details to intimidate ward executives.
“Her actions constitute flagrant disregard to the internal mechanism of the party,” the plaintiffs stated in their court filings.
At Thursday’s proceedings, a lawyer, Abubakar Marshall, who announced appearance for Senator Kingibe, informed the court that a preliminary objection had been filed challenging the suit.
He said the objection had been served on counsel representing the plaintiffs in court.